QuestionDear Elizabeth,
I am 48 years old and very near to 49.............I live a sedentary life and am a little obese.....I have been prescribed one 75mg aspirin pill per day to prevent blood clots etc etc.......however as I am a little anaemic my doctor has told me to stop aspirin as he is blaming it for my anaemia.....however to solve this I need to do several tests......my question is does some other chemical exist given to thin blood and simultaneously does not cause ulcers etc etc?
Sincerely hoping to hear from you soon I sincerely thank you in advance.
Regards.
Paul Fava
Malta
AnswerDear Paul,
Please be aware that the information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be interpreted as medical advice. This information is being provided for informational purposes only. Your own physician is the best resource to interpret your specific laboratory results and should be consulted for medical advice regarding your own specific health
Below is a site which lists common medications used as blood thinners along with herbs and other natural remedies which have blood thinning properties.
Heparin acts on intrinsic coaguoation factors made by the liver which lead to the clotting process and is usually given to hospitalized inpatients. A lab test called a PTT monitors heparin. Because it is such a powerful anticoagulant which can lead to excessive bleeding, it is important for its dosage to be monitored closely by a physician.
Coumadin acts on extrinsic coaguoation factors made by the liver which lead to the clotting process and is usually given to outpatients. A lab test called a PT monitors coumadin. It is also a powerful anticoagulant and its dosage must be monitored closely by a physician.
Here is a website listing some natural substances have blood-thinning properties. One very powerful natural blood thinner is vitamin E and you may want to ask your doctor about reducing the asprin and substituting vitamin E however it would be important to discuss this with your doctor before taking it since it also like asprin can lead to excessive bleeding if not monitored closely which is why if it is taken along with asprin it would be especially important to monitor dosage and side effects.
You may want to ask your doctor about substituting vitamin E or another natural blood thinning substance for some or all of the asprin. You may also want to ask your doctor about taking enteric coated asprin if it is irritating your stomach.
http://www.drlam.com/opinion/blood_thinners_and_nutritional_supplement.asp
Blood Thinners and Nutritional Supplement
Some natural substances have blood-thinning properties. A possible risk exists when taking such a product while also taking Coumarins (coumadin-like substances), salicylates (aspirin-like substances) and anti-platelets (substances that prevent blood cells from clumping together) as these are all considered blood thinners. Too much blood thinning can lead to excessive bleeding.
Herbs containing coumadin: angelica root, arnica flower,anise, asafoetida,celery,chamomile,fenugreek,horse chestnut,licorice root,lovage root,parsley,passionflower herb,quassia. red clover
rue,sweet clover
Herbs thought to contain salicylates: Meadowsweet,poplar,willow bark
Herbs with Anti-platelet properties: bromelain,clove,onion, and turmeric
There are no documented reports of a proven interaction between Coumadin and any of these herbs. However, patients taking these herbs while on Coumadin should be closely watched for signs of bleeding. Herbs that potentiall can increase bleeding time should be stopped at least 2 weeks before surgery and not be taken until approval of the treating physician.
Nearly all available information on herb-Coumadin interactions is based on lab studies, animal studies, or individual case reports. Cause and effect relationships have not been proven. Available reports give limited information about the severity of these interactions. There is little reliable information about the safety and effectiveness of most herbal products. There are no regulations governing purity and potency of herbal products during manufacturing.
Bleeding Risk
The following may increase bleeding risk: Angelica root, Arnica flower, Anise, Asafoetida, Bogbean, Borage seed oil, Bromelain, Capsicum, Celery, Chammomile, Feverfew, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo, Horse chestnut, Licorice root, Lovage root, Eadowsweet, Onion, Parsey, Passionflower herb, Poplar, Quassia, Red clover, Rue, Sweet Clover, Turmeric, Willow bark.
The following Does increase bleeding risk: Danshen, Devil's claw, Dong quai, Papain, Vitamin E
The following may lessen Coumadin's effect: Coenzyme Q10, Ginseng
Specific Supplements
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is usually taken as a food supplement. The RDA is 15 I.U per day. Most health conscious people take about 400 I.U. a day , and therapeutic dosages ranges from 400 to 1600 I.U. a day under the care of a knowledgeable physician.
As vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is not recommended to consume a large dose of it when not under close supervision. The primary reason being that Vitamin E is a strong anti-oxidant and may slow down the rate of oxidation of vitamin K in the body. Vitamin K oxidation is essential to the body as it helps blood to clot. However, it must also be noted that the effects of vitamin E on PT time ( a measure of bleeding time and therefore the coagulation status) varies and is not constant. In other words, the reaction of each person may be different.
Elizabeth
